title: Incorporation of dietary n-3 fatty acids into ovarian compartments in dairy cows and the effects on hormonal and behavioral patterns around estrus.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the incorporation of dietary n-3 fatty acids (FAs) into ovarian compartments and the effects on hormonal and behavioral patterns around estrus. Multiparous 256-day pregnant cows were fed either a standard diet both prepartum and postpartum (PP) (control; n=22) or supplemented with extruded flaxseed (E-FLAX) providing C18:3n-3 at 172.2 and 402.5  g/day per cow prepartum and PP respectively (n=22). The estrous cycle was synchronized, and at day 7 of the cycle, the cows were injected with prostaglandin F(2)(α) (PGF(2)(α)) and then subjected to 5 days of intensive examination. Compared with those in the control, in the E-FLAX group, the interval from PGF(2)(α) injection to behavioral estrus peak tended to be longer (3.6  h; P<0.1), that to estradiol (E(2)) peak was 6.5  h longer (P<0.03), and that to LH peak tended to be longer (5.3  h; P<0.07). The durations of behavioral estrus and E(2) surge were longer, and the area under the E(2) curve was greater in the E-FLAX cows. Afterward, 7-8 days following behavioral estrus, follicular fluids (FFs) from >7  mm follicles were aspirated. The proportions of n-3 FA increased in plasma, FF, and granulosa cells in the E-FLAX group. The concentrations of PGE(2) in the E(2)-active follicles tended to be lower in the E-FLAX cows (P<0.06). In conclusion, several modifications in hormonal and behavioral estrus patterns were demonstrated in cows fed n-3 FA, which might be attributed to alterations in membrane FA composition and partly mediated by lower PGE(2) synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Volcani Center, PO Box 6, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zachut
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arieli
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Moallem
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003612:Dairying; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007267:Injections; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012639:Seeds; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015237:Dinoprost